Police officer charged with molesting girl suspended without pay

Police officer charged with molesting girl suspended without pay

Eric Smith, 57, of Bothell, who has been a Seattle police officer for more than 20 years, appeared in court Tuesday, July 1, 2014. He is accused of molesting his former girlfriend’s daughter from the time she was 7 until she was 11. (Photo: KCPQ-TV)

EVERETT — A Seattle police officer accused of molesting his former girlfriend’s preteen daughter over a period of years has been suspended from the force without pay, Seattle police announced Thursday.

Seattle Police Chief Katholeen O’Toole said Eric Smith, 57, of Bothell, is suspended without pay pending the outcome of criminal proceedings following allegations of molestation.

“As Chief, and as a parent, I am deeply troubled by these allegations,” O’Toole said in a release.

Smith was charged with three counts of first degree child molestation and two counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes Friday. The arrest follows an investigation that began two weeks ago, after the girl spoke out. But investigators say this most recent revelation wasn’t her first cry for help.

Court documents show Smith’s arrest on Monday follows an investigation that began June 18 when the victim — now 12 years old – told a health teacher she`d been touched inappropriately. Documents say the victim told investigators Smith had forced her to perform sexual acts with him several times between 2009 and 2013, when he was seeing her mother